Istikharah (Seeking Allah's help in making a decision)

On the authority of Jaabir Ibn 'Adbullaah (radhi-yAllaahu 'anhu), he said: The Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) would instruct us to pray for guidance in all of our concerns, just as he would teach us a Soorah from the Quran.
He would say:'If any of you intends to undertake a matter then let him pray two supererogatory units [two rak'ah naafilah] of prayer and after which he should supplicate:

O Allah, if You know that this matter [then mention the thing to be decided] is good for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, - [or say: in this life and the afterlife] - then ordain it for me and make it easy for me, then bless me in it.

And if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion and in my life and for my welfare in the life to come, - [or say: in this life and the afterlife] - then distance it from me, and distance me from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and help me to be content with it.